Tragic Washington Crash: 18 Bodies Pulled from Water, No Survivors
After a fiery crash in Washington, 18 bodies were recovered from the water. Authorities have confirmed there are no survivors. The crash has left the community in grief.
A deadly crash near Washington, D.C., resulted in at least 18 people being pulled from the water, with no survivors confirmed so far. A jet carrying 60 passengers and four crew members collided with an Army helicopter on Wednesday while landing at Ronald Reagan National Airport. The crash led to a massive search-and-rescue operation in the nearby Potomac River, but the number of fatalities was unclear as rescue teams continued their efforts.
The Army helicopter had three soldiers on board. Authorities haven’t yet determined the cause of the crash, but all flights at the airport were temporarily halted. Several helicopters from local law enforcement agencies flew over the crash site, and inflatable rescue boats were launched to search the river. Multiple boats equipped with search lights scanned the area in the dark.
Video footage from the scene showed a terrifying explosion midair as the plane collided with the helicopter. The crash occurred just after 9 p.m. EST, near one of the most closely monitored airspaces in the world, just over three miles south of the White House and Capitol.
Former President Donald Trump commented on the tragedy, saying he was “fully briefed” on the situation and offered condolences for the victims, adding, “May God Bless their souls.”
The Federal Aviation Administration confirmed the crash occurred when a regional jet, American Airlines Flight 5342, collided with a military helicopter while the plane was trying to land at the airport. The regional jet had just departed from Wichita, Kansas, and was approaching the runway when the collision took place.
Flight tracking data showed the plane was at about 400 feet above the Potomac River, traveling at a speed of 140 miles per hour, when it suddenly lost altitude. The Bombardier CRJ-701, a Canadian-made jet, was carrying up to 70 passengers.
Before landing, air traffic controllers had instructed the plane to land on a shorter runway, Runway 33. The plane adjusted its course accordingly. Just 30 seconds before the crash, an air traffic controller radioed the helicopter, asking if it could see the incoming plane. Seconds later, the two aircraft collided in midair.
Authorities are now investigating the crash and reviewing the final moments of both aircraft, including their communication with air traffic controllers.
